Which class of 2018 prospects can North Carolina fans expect to see in Chapel Hill next year?
The North Carolina Tar Heels already have commitments from two top-70 prospects in the class of 2018 and another from the 2019 class.
Headlined by five-star prospect Coby White, each of the three commits has the skill and versatility to solidify a deep and talented Tar Heels back court for years to come.
On the other hand, the future of the Tar Heels’ front court currently has more questions than it does answers.
Having lost Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks to graduation, and Tony Bradley to the NBA, North Carolina’s interior loses a tremendous amount of size and experience from last season’s title team.
Fortunately, Roy Williams and the North Carolina coaching staff were able to reel in 6-foot-8 Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson. Johnson fought for, and gained, immediate eligibility from the NCAA after earning his undergraduate degree in three years, subsequently leaving Pitt.
His place alongside rising star and NCAA Tournament hero Luke Maye will at least help the Tar Heels’ attempts to replace the losses from last season’s dominant front court.
The Tar Heels do welcome in three freshman big men this season in Garrison Brooks, Brandon Huffman and Sterling Manley.
While none of the aforementioned players made it into top-100 of any recruiting outlet in the nation, they do bring decent size to the UNC front court at 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-11, respectively.
And what does that mean for next season?
Will the three freshman bigs, along with sensational wing Cam Johnson and up-and-comer Luke Maye, be enough to hang with the ACC’s upper-third? Or will it take the Tar Heels making a much bigger splash in the class of 2018?
Take a look at the Tar Heels’ remaining targets in the class of 2018, and who we think will end up in Carolina Blue next fall.
Better luck next time
Zion Williamson is a heck of player. There’s no denying that. But like so many other elite players in recent years, this five-star prospect will turn down the Tar Heels, likely for another shade of blue.
The 6-foot-7, 230-pound phenom is arguably the top prep player in the country. In terms of raw athletic ability and excitement, though, he’s unequivocally the top player in the nation.
His combination of size and sheer strength, along with his tremendous athleticism and leaping ability, will make him a nightmare for defenders to guard. That, and his ability to apply defensive pressure and run the fast break, make him one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
Sure, he missed a few dunks in that highlight reel. Let’s be honest, though, his missed dunks are more exciting than most players’ makes.
Williamson is the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2018 according to the 247Sports Composite ranking. He’s the top small forward in the class and the No. 1 player in the state of South Carolina.
He holds offers from over 30 schools including Arizona, Baylor, Clemson, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, UCLA and Virginia, among others.
It appears, though, as if traditional blue bloods have moved to the forefront of his recruitment in recent months as Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina look to have a leg up on everyone else.
Prediction: Kansas
Romeo Langford is North Carolina’s top back court prospect in the class and the No. 1-ranked shooting guard in the country.
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound Langford is a tremendous athlete with a terrific skill set that will translate well to the collegiate level. His ability to move with or without the ball, attack the paint and hit shots from the perimeter make him a valuable asset to any college team.
And collectively, it’s helped him become one of the top prospects in the country and maintain that position for two years.
Langford recently discussed his thoughts on the University of North Carolina and his relationship with head coach Roy Williams:
“I like the way North Carolina plays,” Langford told the Courier-Journal last month. “They play fast and get the ball up the court and shoot. I like Coach Williams and his coaching staff. He came to visit me three days after they won the national championship.”
Langford averaged 28.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and more than two blocks per game in leading New Albany to a 25-4 record and an appearance in the regional final.
He currently holds offers from Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina and UCLA, among others.
It’s looking more and more like he may end up staying in the Midwest, though, given his level of interest in schools such as in-state powerhouse Indiana and Louisville.
Prediction: Louisville
Simisola Shittu is one of the newest editions to the Tar Heels’ list of 2018 targets. And unfortunately, North Carolina may have waited a little too long to get involved with this elite big man.
The 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward has quickly become one of the most sought after prospects in the country. His combination of size and strength, along with his ability to finish in the post, make him one of the best front court players in the class of 2018.
Shittu is the No. 7 player in the 2018 class according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the top power forward in the class and the No. 1 player in the state of Vermont.
He currently holds over 20 scholarship offers, and will certainly receive more in the coming months. As of now, he’s got offers from Arizona, Baylor, Connecticut, Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Texas, and UCLA, among others.
Although he’s still awaiting offers from Duke and Kentucky, it’s likely that both will play a part in his recruitment.
Prediction: Kentucky
So you’re telling me there’s a chance
Not long ago, Jairus Hamilton was seen by many as a strong UNC lean. Now, though, it’s the Tar Heels’ pesky rival from Raleigh that seems to have a leg up on the competition.
Either way, it appears that the 6-foot-8, 220-pound native of Concord, North Carolina is favoring two of the state’s top-3 basketball schools. Duke has also offered Hamilton, though he’s shown less interest in the Blue Devils than he has in the Tar Heels and Wolfpack.
The four-star power forward would be a nice addition to the Tar Heels next season, given their obvious lack of experienced and proven talent in the low post.
Hamilton talked to Rivals about his recruitment, particularly his relationship with North Carolina and interest in joining the Tar Heels next year.
“I definitely like them a lot,” Hamilton said. “I got Coby (White) and Rechon (Black) already committed there so I know people that are there, plus, I have been there a lot and know the coaches. It definitely has a lot of good connections, which is what I like about them.”
He averaged better than 23 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior, subsequently receiving scholarship offers from a number of prolific basketball programs including Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia.
For the time being, though, it appears as if the Tar Heels and Wolfpack are the teams to beat in Hamilton’s recruitment.
Prediction: N.C. State
Darius Days is another newcomer on the Tar Heels’ class of 2018 recruiting board.
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound power forward is currently attending The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida where he has garnered 30 scholarship offers including ones from Butler, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas, LSU, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Xavier, among others.
He recently trimmed his list down to just five schools, though, including LSU, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State and Xavier. He subsequently began scheduling official visits, which will begin on September 15th at Louisville and likely end with a trip to Xavier.
He’ll visit North Carolina on October 7th, between trips to Ohio State and LSU.
Days recently spoke to Elevate Hoops about his top-five and discussed his thoughts on the University of North Carolina and his relationship with the Tar Heels’ coaching staff:
“I talk to coach Roy (Williams) and coach Hubert (Davis) a lot. It’s just the way he (Roy Williams) talks to you. He’s not one of those coaches that tell you fake dreams. He just comes to you man-to-man and just talk about real life stuff and just tells me how he’s going to develop me and he’s just a real down to earth man and he’s very respectable. Other than being a coach, he’s a great guy.”
Days is currently the No. 69 prospect in the class of 2018 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the 18th-ranked power forward in the class and a top-10 prospect in the state of Florida.
The Tar Heels are coming on strong in Days’ recruitment, but they’ll have their work cut out for them thanks to LSU and Louisville getting their claws in deep and early.
Prediction: LSU
If I were a betting man
Nassir Little is, without question, the most likely elite prospect to end up in Chapel Hill next season.
Not only does he appear to favor the Tar Heels, but he’s also moved into the top-10 in the latest update of the 247Sports Composite.
And despite having nearly 40 scholarship offers, Little recently named a top-5 that includes Arizona, Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina.
Final 5‼️ #respectit pic.twitter.com/iCwaOE6ta1
— Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) August 10, 2017
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound small forward has good size and excellent athleticism, and should match up favorably with opposing wings at the collegiate level.
He’s a terrific athlete and finishes well above the rim and in traffic, but also has a nice mid-range game. He’s a good rebounder and can move well without the ball. He could, however, improve on his ball handling and long-distance shooting.
Little is currently the No. 10 prospect in the class of 2018 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s a consensus top-5 player at his position and in the state of Florida.
Prediction: North Carolina
Although the Tar Heels’ joined the Nate Laszewski sweepstakes just a few weeks ago, they seem to be gaining traction in his recruitment.
“I’m more on the perimeter, kind of like a stretch ‘4,’” Laszewski told Inside Carolina. “I’m able to stretch the court with my shooting, but I can also make plays off the bounce and go hard inside if I need to and mix it up. Coach Williams said he hasn’t had a whole lot of bigger guys who can stretch the floor recently like me, but with Luke Maye doing a little bit of it last year he likes the idea of having more of it.”
The 6-foot-10, 190-pound power forward is set to visit UNC on September 23rd. The Northfield, Massachusetts native is entering his senior season at Northfield Mount Hermon.
Last month, I compared Laszewski’s tall, wiry frame to that of a young Brice Johnson. Laszewski’s ability to hit shots from long-range is much more developed than Johnson, though, making him a threat from all over the court.
Laszewski is the No. 76 player in the class of 2018 according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s the 21st-ranked player at his position and a top-5 prospect in the state of Massachusetts.
Prediction: North Carolina
